Latch device



LATCH DEVICE Dec. 7, 1954 E. N. JAcoBl 2,696,399

LATCH DEVICE Filed April 5, 1950 5 Sl'leeLs-Sheerl 2 ai@ Mum E. N.JACOBI Dec. 7, 1954 LATCH DEVICE 5 Sheeds-Sheet 5 Filed April 3, 1950Dec. 7, 1954 E, N, JACQBl 2,696,399

LATCH DEVICE Filed April 5, 195o 5 sheets-Sheet 4 l ewwm flu/5rd N.Jdmbz l l gj.,

Dec. 7, 1954 E. N. JAcoBl 2,696,399

LATCH DEVICE Filed April 3, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .latehdevice of thisinvention,

United States Patent 2,696,399 LATCH DEVICE Milwaukee, Wis., assignor toBriggs &

Stratton Corporation, of Delaware Application April 3, 1950, Serial No.153,559 Claims. (Cl. 292-465) This invention relates to latch devicesand refers more partlcularly to latch devices ofthe type especiallyadapted f or use on glove compartments of automobiles and the Latchdevices of this type are .customarily provided with a spring propelledlatch bolt, and retraction .0f the bolt is usually accomplished bydepression -of a push button actuator into the body of the device.Obviously, there is a connection between the actuator and the bolt fortranslating .such depression of the actuator into re tracting motion ofthe bolt.

One of the purposes of ,this invention is to provide a latch device ofthe character .described with an actuator for effecting retraction ofthe latch bolt and connected with the bolt by means which not onlyimparts retracting motion to the bolt but also holds the actuatorassembled with the latch device.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a latch device withexceptionally compact bolt retracting means connected between the boltand the actuator in such a manner as to enable reduction of the overall,dimensions of `the device. v

Still another purpose of this invention is to provide bolt retractingmeans which is so connected with the actuator as to effect retraction ofthe bolt either by rotation or inward depression of the actuator intothe body .of the latch device.

A further purpose device of the character described wherein retractionof the latch bolt may be accomplished .either by a simple nonlockingpush button Aor by a key .operated lockV cylinder which allows lockingof the latch bolt in its projected position.

It is another purpose of this invention Eto provide a latch device with.a rotatable and slidable actuator, and wherein the bolt will beretracted by means requiring rotation of the actuator to a predeterminedposition followed by inward depression of the actuator into the body ofthe latch device, .or by continued rotation of the actuator beyond said.predetermined position thereof.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination. and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly defined by the yappended claims, itbeing understood that such changes in the precise embodiments be made ascome of the hereindisclosed invention may within the scope of .theclaims.

The accompanying drawing illustrate several complete examples of thephysical embodiment .of the invention constructed in accordance with thebest modes .so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view thrllgh the latch.v device ofthis invention, `taken from the side, and showing the vapplicationthereof to the door of a glove CQmPallllTlent';

Figure 2 vis a longitudinal sectional -vfiew similar to Figure l butshowing the manner in which the latch bolt is retracted; t

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the having jparts:thereof in elevation and -in their ypositions corresponding yto thoseof Figure l;

,p Figure-...4 'is a longitudinal sectional view taken through `5 along'the -planeof the `line 4 4; A f

of this invention is `to provide a latch of the plane of the door.

taken `from the top, and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken through Figure the line 5-5' 4along the plane of Figure 6 is an elevational view looking at the rearend of the latch device;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken through Figure l along theplane of the line 7-7' Figure 8 is a cross sectional 2 along the planeof the line 8-8;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 7 but illustratingthe manner in which the latch bolt is retracted in consequence torotation of the actuator;

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken through Figure l along theplane of the line lll- 10;

Figure ll is a perspective view of the latch body looking into the frontend thereof and having portions of the side wall 'broken away and shownin section;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the lock cylinder actuator viewingthe `same fromthe top and rear;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the latch bolt',

Figure 14 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 7 but illustratinga slightly modified embodiment of the invention;

Figure l5 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Figure 3 butshowing the device equipped with a simple tubular push button actuator;

Figure 16 is a side elevational shown in Figure 15 with portions of thelatch body away and vshown in section;

`Figure 17 is a cross sectional view taken .through Figure 16 along theplane of the line 17-17;

Figure 18 is a cross sectional view through Figure 16 taken .along theplane of the line 18--18; and

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the tubular push button actuatoryshown in Figures l5 to 18, viewing the Same from the .top and 4vrear.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in whichlike numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, thelatch device of this invention is shown as mounted upon the door 5,glove compartment, near the free edge of the door, and beneath a strikerthe compartment at the rear of the door. 'This mounting of the latchdevice, however, is merely illustrative, as in some cases it visdesirable to have the striker and its keeper mounted on the door and thelatch device secured to the instrument panel above the door opening.

The latch device of this invention includes a latch bolt 8 which, whenprojected to its operative position, is adapted to engage behind akeeper 9 on the striker to hold the compartment'door closed; and has anactuator 10 'by which the latch bolt 8 may be retracted when desired tofree the door for opening.

The latch bolt 8 and the actuator 10 are mounted on a latch body 11which is generally `cylindrical and has a lfront portion projectingforwardly through an aperture in the door so that the body lies partlyat each .side l The actuator 10 is preferably a lock'cyliuder Vslidablelongitudinally in a bore 12 lin the body opening to the front thereof,and rotatable by a suitable key indicated at 13.

is slidably mounted in a view of the latch device broken body. rocatorymotion in its slot, transverse bore 12.

In Figure 1 the lock .cylinder is shown in its locking position but withthe tumblers 15 thereof retracted by the key 13 out of diametricallyopposite longitudinal tumbler grooves 16 in the lock body to free thecylinder for rotation in the body bore. Inward depression of the lockcylinder, in the Figure l position thereof, is a lrearward extensionprecluded by the engagement o t 17 .on the inner end o f the Cylinderwith an abutment 18 in the body bore.

The latch bolt 8 4is biased t0 its operative projected position seen. inFigure 1 by the usual compression .spring 19 confined in an upright wellvbehind the latch bolt; 'boltis adapted to be retracted -to its positionshown idF-,igure 2 by inward depression of the lock has been rotatedclockwise, as viewed View taken through Figurev 6 which projectsdownwardly into from the front, out of its locking position through anarc of approximately 90 degrees to an unlocked position shown in Figure2. In this position of the lock cylinder, the extension 17 has clearedthe abutment 18 on the body to allow depression of the cylinder into thebody bore.

Such inward depression of the cylinder is translated into boltretraction motion through a bolt lever generally designated 2t)connected between the latch bolt and the extension 17 on the inner endof the lock cylinder.

The bolt retracting lever 20 preferably comprises a length of wire bentto U shape with its closed end or bight 21 providing an arm whichprojects into the body bore crosswise thereof and from one side of thebore to lie ahead of the bolt 8. It has a pivot leg 22 passingrearwardly through an elongated hole 23 in the lock body alongside thebore 12 to mount the lever for swinging motion about an axis parallel tothe axis of the body bore; and an opposite leg 24 projecting rearwardlyin the bore and passing respectively through aligned openings 25 and 26in the bolt and the end wall 27 defining the bottom of the body bore.

The lever 2l) is held against forward sliding motion in the direction ofits pivot axis by a head 28 on the projecting rear end of its pivot legengaged over a washer 29; while the closed end or bight 21 of the leverprecludes rearward motion of the lever relative to the latch body.

Referring to Figure 7, it will be seen that the bolt spring holds theshoulder 30 at the lower edge of the opening 25 in the bolt engaged withthe underside of the leg 24 of the lever, so that when the lever isswung downwardly, or counterclockwise on its pivot leg 22, the leg 24 ofthe lever propels the bolt downwardly with it and retracts the bolt toits position seen in Figure 8. It will be appreciated, of course, thatthe bolt spring, acting through the bolt, yieldingly resists retractionof the bolt, and in fact tends to swing the lever in a clockwisedirection.

In the operative projected position of the bolt. therefore, the lever 20is swung upwardly by the bolt in consequence to the spring pressurethereon, and occupies the position seen in Figure 7. This position ofthe lever is defined by the engagement of a slightly offset rear betweenthe opposing shoulders 30 and 36 on the bolt and the latch body,respectively, to limit outward projection of the bolt by its spring.

This is a highly advantageous lfeature of the latch device of thisinvention and a substantial improvement over constructions frequentlyused in the past in latch devices of this nature wherein the latch boltwas maintained in its slot by shoulders on its sides which engagedabutments on the latch body formed by staking the edges of the bolt slotinwardly. ln this latter construction the hammer blows delivered ontothe staked abutments whenever the compartment door was slammed shutfrequently resulted in the staked abutments being broken off withconsequent destruction of the usefulness of the latch device.

It is one of the features of this invention that the lever 20 isemployed not only to translate motion of the actuator 10 in the bodybore into inward retracting motion of the bolt 8, but also to hold theactuator against outward displacement from the bore. accomplishedthrough a novel connection between the lever and the extension 17 on therear of the lock cylinder.

The extension 17 is stamping clinched onto a reduced neck at the innerend of t e cylinder as by lugs 37 and a tang 38 received in cylinder.The extension is curved to substantially semicircular shape, as seenbest in Figure 12, and has a hole 39 through the side thereof throughlocked positionsgand the hole defines a circumferentially ist) extendingrim 40 on the extension at all times engaged behind the bight of thelever.

In the unlocked position of the cylinder seen in Figure 2, a cam surface41 provided by one edge of the hole 39 is brought into cooperativerelationship with the bight 21 of the lever. When the cylinder isdepressed in the unlocked position thereof, this cam surface rides ontothe top of the bight to cam the lever downwardly as seen in Figure 8, inthe direction to retract the latch bolt.

The lock cylinder is held against turning during such inward depressionthereof by reason of the fact its extension rides between and is guidedby diametrically opposite longitudinal ledges 42 and 43 in the bore 12at the rear thereof for engagement by the longitudinal edges of theextension. In this connection, it is to be noted that the abutment 18 inthe bore is located at the front of the ledge 42; and that some axialguiding of the lock cylinder may be accomplished by the tumblers 15 ofthe cylinder, when the key 13 is removed, by their engagement in eitherof dametrically opposite tumbler receiving grooves 16 opening to thebore 12 and displaced 90 degrees from the grooves 16. The grooves 16',of course, allow the key 13 to be removed from or inserted into the lockcylinder in the unlocked position thereof.

At its edge opposite the cam surface 41, the hole 39 is shaped toprovide a substantiallv narrow neck 44 to receive the portion of thebight 21 on the lever nearest the pivot leg 22 thereof in the lockingposition of the lock cylinder. Because of this fact, the rearwardlyfacing edge of the neck 44 may be made to engage with the front side ofthe bight to preclude inward depression of the lock cylinder in thelocking position thereof.

jWith the construction described, bolt retracting motion may also beimparted to the lever 20 in consequence to rotation of the lock cylinderbeyond its unlocked position. This is accomplished by the rearmost endof the cam surface 41 which defines a driver 45 engageable y with thetop side of the bight 21 of the lever to swing the same downwardly ifrotation of the lock cylinder is continued beyond its unlocked position,as seen in Figure 9.

Attention is directed to the fact that such rotation of the lockcylinder beyond its unlocked position is limited by engagement of theoffset rear end portion of the leg 24 of the lever with a shoulder 46 onthe latch bolt defined by the side of the opening 25 therein nearest thepivot leg 22 of the lever.

lf desired, the bolt retracting lever may also be used to limitretrograde rotation of the lock cylinder beyond the locking positionseen in Figure l. As shown in Figure 14, this can be accomplished byshortening the cir cumferential length of the hole 39 in the cam member17 to eliminate the reduced neck portion 44 therein, so that the bightof the lever is more or less clamped between the lowermost edge 47 ofthe hole 39 and the underside of the rim portion on the cam member or 17when the cylinder reaches 36 on the rear of the body to limit outwardprojection of the latch bolt, and consequently, the hammer blow of thebolt incidental to slamming the compartment door shut may be bornejointly by the shoulder 36 and the rim portion 40 on the cylinderextension.

As is customary in latch devices of this nature, the lock cylinder isyieldingly biased forwardly in the body bore, in the present case by acompression spring 50. The spring has its inner end seated in a well 51on the latch body alongside the bore and parallel thereto, the wellbeing in alignment with the tumbler groove 16 re mote from the lever 20.The forward outer end of the spring lies in the groove 16 and encirclesthe stern of a plunger 52 which has an inwardly bent foot or fiange 53facing shoulder 54 on the Hence the spring, acting through the foot 53presses the cylinder forwardly to normally hold the rim 40 on thecylinder extension enlgaged with the rear of the bight 21 of the boltretracting ever.

Referring to Figure 10 it will be seen that the shoe or flange 53 on theplunger is shaped to cooperate with the sides of the adjacent groove 16and the side of the lock cylinder rearwardly of the shoulder 54 so as tomaintain the forward end of the compression` spring 50 against de;

ection out of its groove 16.

ceases- In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 15 to 19inclusive, the latch device is of the nonlocking type. It has a pushltutton 55 comprising a tubu, lar member 56, with a cap 57 fixed overits front end to close the same. The push button likewise has afrearwardextension 17' at one side thereof provided with an aperture 39' throughwhich the arm 21 of the lever projects to hold the button againstforward displacement from the body bore. One edge 41 of the aperturealso provides a cam surface overlying the transverse arm 21 of the bolt'retracting lever to impart bolt retracting motion thereto inconsequence to inward depression of the actuator.

In this embodiment, the push button actuator 55 is held against rotationin the body bore by the tendency of the latch bolt spring to swing thebolt retracting lever upwardly, as viewed in Figure 18. This bias on thelever serves to yieldingly hold the upper longitudinal edge of a guidelinger 59 against the'underside of the ledge 42 in the rear of the bodybore.

Hence, even though the actuator .is depressed into the bore to effectretraction of the latch bolt, the lever, acting upon the cam surface 41tends to rotate the actuator in a counterclockwise direction as seen inFigure 18 to hold the upper edge of the guide linger engaged with theunder 'side of 'the ledge 42.

In this embodiment of the invention the return spring 50' for theactuator has its inner end seated on and surrounding a centering lug 62adjacent to the mouth of the well 51 in the rear end portion of thelatch body. The forward end of the spring 50' encircles a rearwardlyextending pilot 63 formed as part of the side wall of the tubular member56 and bears against a shoulder 64 on the tubular member at the innerend of the pilot. The pilot 63, of course, is defined by spacedlongitudinal slits 65 in the rear end portion of the tubular member 56,one of which may be along one edge of the blank from which the tubularmember is rolled up.

From the foregoing description taken together with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatthe operating mechanism of the latch device of this invention isdesigned to assure desirable compactness of the mechanism as well as toallow retraction of the latch bolt to be accomplished either by rotationor inward depression of the actuator therefor.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a latch device of the character described: a bodyl having aforwardly opening bore and a transverse slot communicating with the borenear the rear thereof and opening through one side of thebody; a springpropelled latch bolt movable back and forth in said slot crosswise ofthe body bore between an operative projected position toward which it isurged by its spring and an inoperative retracted position; a bolt levermounted on the body for swinging motion about an axis parallel to thatof the body bore; cooperating means on the lever and the body precludingbodily motion of the lever in the direction of its axis; said leverhaving an arm projecting into the body bore substantially crosswisethereof and a rearwardly extending leg joined to the outer end of saidarm and passing through a hole in the latch bolt to provide adrivingconnection between the lever and the bolt by which the bolt is retractedupon swinging motion of the lever in one direction; an actuator slidablein the body bore; means for precluding forward displacement of theactuator from the body bore comprising a part on the rear end of theactuator engaged behind said arm on the lever; and cooperating cam meanson the lever and the actuator for translating inward depression of theactuator into swinging motion of the lever in the direction to retractthe latch bolt.

2. The latch device set forth in claim l wherein said arm on the leverprojects through a hole extending transversely through a part on theinner end of the actuator to preclude outward displacement of theactuator from the body bore, and further characterized by the provisionof a cam surface along one edge of said hole engageable with said arm onthe lever during inward depression of the actuator to impart swinging mo"on to the lever in the direction to retract the latch bolt.

3. The latch device set forth in claim 2 wherein said actuator isrotatable as well as slidable in the body bore; and furthercharacterized by the provision of a driving abutment along an edge ofsaid hole engageable with said arm of the lever to impart boltretracting motion thereto preferably rolled up from sheet metal,v

in consequence of rotation of the actuatorin one directionv from a boltreleased position.

4. The latch device set forth in claim 2 leg on the lever projectsrearwardly in the body bore through aligned holes in the bolt and therear of the body to be engageable with an edge of the hole in the bodyupon bolt releasing motion of the lever to limit such motion of thelever and prevent outward displacement of the bolt from its slot; andfurther characterized by the provision of a second abutment along theedge of said hole engageable with the lever in the bolt releasedposition thereof to limit retrograde rotation of the actuator in thebolt releasing direction.

5. In a latch device of the character described: a body having aforwardly opening bore and a transverse slot communicating with the borenear the rear thereof and opening through one side of the body; a latchbolt movable in said slot and spring urged outwardly thereof to anoperative projected position, but retractable to an inoperativeposition; a bolt retracting lever mounted on the body for swingingmotion on an axis parallel to the body bore and at one side thereof;cooperating means on the lever and the body precluding in the directionof its axis; said lever having an arm extending into the body boresubstantially crosswise thereof, and a leg on the outer end of said armextending rearwardly in the bore toward the latch bolt; a connectionbetween the bolt and said leg of the lever whereby swinging of the leverin one direction effects retraction of the bolt; an actuator slidableaxially in the body bore; a motion transmitting connection between theactuator and said arm of the lever whereby rearward axial motion of theactuator is translated into swinging motion ofthe lever in the directionto retract the bolt; spring means in the bore at the side thereofopposite the lever axis and reacting against the actuator to urge thesame forwardly out of the bore; and a connection between the actuatorand said lever arm precluding forward displacement of the actuator outof the bore.

6. The latch device set forth in claim 5 wherein said spring meanscomprises a compression spring having its forward end coiled about apilot on the actuator and its rear end surrounding and located by acentering lug near the rear of the body bore.

7. In a latch device of the character described: a body having a boreand a transverse slot communicating with the inner end of the bore andopening through one side of the body; a latch bolt movable in said slotand spring urged outwardly thereof, but retractable to an inoperativeposition against the force of its spring; a bolt retracting lever on thebody constrained to swinging motion on an axis parallel to and alongsidethe body bore; a connection between said lever and the bolt by which thebolt is retracted in consequence to swinging motion of the lever in onedirection; an actuator rotatable and axially slidable in the body bore;cooperating longitudnially aligned stop means on the actuator and thebody for precluding inward depression of lthe actuator in one positionof rotation thereof, the actuator being depressible axially into thebore upon rotation thereof in one direction to a second position atwhich said stop means are disaligned; cooperating guide means on theactuator and the body to guide the actuator for axial motion in saidsecond position of rotation thereof; and a motion transmittingconnection between the actuator and the lever established by rotation ofthe actuator to said second position thereof, and operable to translateinward depression of the actuator into bolt retracting motion of thelever.

8. The latch device set forth in claim 5, further characterized by thefact that said arm of the lever extends through a hole in the rear ofthe actuator to establish said connection precluding forwarddisplacement of the actuator from the bore; and further characterized bythe fact that said motion transmitting connection between said actuatorand the arm of the lever comprises a cam surface along one edge of saidhole engageable with said arm on the lever during rearward depression ofthe actuator to impart swinging motion to the lever in the direction toretract the latch bolt.

9. In a latch device of the character described: a body having a boreand a transverse slot communicating with the inner end of the bore andopening through one side of the body; a latch bolt movable in said slotand spring urged outwardly thereof to an operative projected position; abolt retracting lever carried by the body and conwherein said bodilymotion of the lever' strained to swinging motion on an axis parallel tothe body bore and at one side thereof, said lever having an armextending into the body bore substantially crosswise thereof and a legon the outer end of said arm extending rearwardly in the bore toward thelatch bolt; a connection between the latch bolt and said leg of thelever whereby swinging of the lever in one direction effects retractionof the bolt; an actuator rotatable and axially slidable in the bodybore; cooperating longitudinal ledges on the actuator and the body, saidledges terminating in opposing abutments which are longitudinallyaligned in one position of rotation of the actuator to preclude inwarddepression thereof and disaligned in a second position of rotation ofthe actuator to permit inward depression thereof; and means forimparting bolt retracting motion to the lever comprising cooperating cammeans on the rear of the actuator and on the lever arm operable uponinward depression of the actuator to swing the lever in said onedirectionto retract the bolt, the cam surface on the actuator beingeccentric thereto and said longitudinal ledges being slidably engagedduring such inward depression of the actuator to receive the cammingreaction of said cam means and preclude rotation of the actuator inresponse thereto.

10. In a latch device of the character described: a body having a boreand a transverse slot communicating with the inner end of the bore andopening through one side of the body; a latch bolt movable in said slotand spring move said part in sald one direction to retract the bolt, thecam surface on the actuator being eccentric thereto and saidlongitudinal ledges being slidably engaged during such inward depressionof the actuator to receive the camming reaction of said cam means andpreclude rotation of the actuator in response thereto.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 225,707 Livermore Mar- 23, 1880 2,046,630 Jacobi July 7, 19362,450,145 Jacobi Sept. 28, 1948 2,573,061 Oct. 30, 1951 Raymond

